THE JERUSALEM POST

By JPOST.COM STAFF
12/16/2010 09:06

Consensus adopts resolution raised by Rep. Howard Berman supporting negotiated solution to conflict, condemns unilateral moves by PA.

US House opposes unilateral declaration of 'Palestine'

The US Congress voted late Wednesday not to support an unilateral Palestinian declaration of statehood.

The House of Representatives passed a resolution expressing opposition to the Palestinian Authority's efforts to obtain recognition for a state with 1967 borders, without an agreement with Israel.

RELATED:
View the full text of the resolution (PDF)
Mitchell: US intends to pursue 'substantive' peace talks
South American countries recognize Palestinian state

The resolution was introduced by Rep. Howard Berman, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

According to a summary of the floor proceedings in the House on Wednesday, Berman moved to pass the resolution "supporting a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and condemning unilateral measures to declare or recognize a Palestinian state."

During a visit to Cairo on Wednesday, US Mideast envoy George Mitchell said he intends to pursue "substantive" negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, AFP reported.

"In the days ahead our discussions with both sides will be substantive, two way conversations with an eye towards making real progress in the next few months on the key questions of an eventual framework agreement," Mitchell was quoted as saying.

Earlier this month, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay announced they recognized a “free and independent” Palestinian state.

Argentina’s President Cristina Kirchner told Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a letter that her country recognized a Palestine defined by 1967 borders, Argentine officials said. The Argentine Foreign Ministry said in an e-mailed statement that the move was designed to help “definitively advance the negotiation process that will lead to the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Israel expressed “regret and disappointment” at the South American countries' recognition of an independent Palestinian state.

My Note:

This is great news for America and Israel! Now, if anyone wonders why such a move by the House was necessary, perhaps the following article will demonstrate why this Obama administration needs to be reigned in by both House and Senate:

FROM WND'S JERUSALEM BUREAU

Obama encouraging 'diplomatic assault' on Israel?
PA officials: President quietly permitting recognition of Palestinian state
Posted: December 12, 2010
6:01 pm Eastern

By Aaron Klein
© 2010 WorldNetDaily

TEL AVIV – Palestinian officials tell WND the Obama administration is only giving lip service to resisting a Latin American declaration recognizing a Palestinian state outside of a the framework of an agreement with Israel.

In what amounts to a diplomatic assault on Israel, Argentina and Uruguay last week announced they were joining Brazil in unilaterally recognizing an independent Palestinian state.
"The Argentine government recognizes Palestine as a free and independent state within the borders defined in 1967," Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timmerman said.
The 1967 borders refer to the entire Gaza Strip, West Bank and eastern sections of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount – the holiest site in Judaism.

Timmerman said the decision to recognize a Palestinian state stems from a "deep desire to see a definitive advance in the negotiation process leading to the establishment of a just and durable peace in the Middle East."

Publicly, the U.S. was quick to rebuke the decision by Latin American countries.

"We believe such recognition is premature," William Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, told reporters in the Chilean capital Santiago.

"It's only through negotiation between the parties themselves, Palestinians and Israelis, that we'll be able to realize the two-state solution," he said.

Palestinian Authority officials, however, told WND the Obama administration has not privately lobbied the Latin American countries against their recognition, with more Central and South American nations expected to join the fray.

"In actuality, Obama is not doing anything to prevent more countries from recognizing a Palestinian state," one PA official told WND.
(Story continues )

My Note:
I would send Mitchell and his gang home; this guy has done nothing for the past two years to persuade the Arabs to sit down and "talk"; he should stay close to "home" here in the states until such time the Palestinians decide they are serious about directly negotiating peace talks with Israel. Since most of us understand that will not happen in the near future, the Obama "team" should not be traveling back and forth to the ME, until they are invited by the negotiating parties i.e. Israel and the Arab "PLO/Palestinians".

Bee Sting